Glossary

gill arch

Bony or cartilaginous arch in the pharynx to which the gill filaments and rakers are attached.

Used in 162 species profiles

basibranchial teeth
Teeth on the median ventral plate (base of the tongue) overlying the basibranchial bones between the gill arches in some fishes.
buccal cavity
Cavity located inside the mouth, above the gill arches. Also referred to as 'mouth cavity'.
epibranchial
Bone or cartilage forming the upper part of the gill arch, positioned between the ceratobranchial and pharyngobranchial.
gill filament
Comb-like lamellae found in the gills, through which oxygen is extracted and carbon dioxide expelled.
gill raker
Any of the bony processes located on the gill arch which function to either retain food items or otherwise prevent solid matter from entering the gill chamber. Vary in number and size depending on taxon and therefore useful in identification.
hyoid arch
Either of the second pair of pharyngeal or gill arches. Supports part of the tongue and the branchiostegal rays.
pharynx
Section of the alimentary canal connecting the mouth and nasal apparatus with the oesophagus.